Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general, writer and statesman of the first century BC. He won the civil war against Pompey, became dictator for life and was killed in Rome on March 15, 44 BC. In Anatolia he is remembered for the battle of Zela in 47 BC and his famous words Veni, vidi, vici.
| Born | Rome |
|---|---|
| Died | Rome, March 15, 44 BC |
| Known for | The Gallic Wars, the civil war with Pompey, the Julian calendar |
| In Anatolia | Defeated King Pharnaces II at Zela in 47 BC |
Julius Caesar was born in Rome in 102 BC. His mother was Aurelia Cotta and his father was Gaius Julius. It is claimed that Caesar took the name “Ceasar”, which means “cut off” because it was taken by cutting the belly of his mother who died at his birth. He is also the inspiration for today’s cesarean section operation. Julius Caesar, a great statesman, was also a very famous writer too. Caesar mostly took the side of the people in his political attitude and tried to remove the pressure of the Roman nobles on the Roman citizens.
The name Caesar was associated with leaders such as Alexander the Great, Sun Tzu, Hannibal, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon Bonaparte, who are considered by historians to be the most important military tacticians and strategists in history due to their military abilities. Caesar won tactically spectacular victories, both at the battle of Gergovia during the Gallic wars and at the battle of Dyrrhachium during the Roman civil war. However, Caesar’s tactical genius showed itself in the siege of Alesia during the Gallic Wars, the battle of Pharsalus during the civil war, Pompey’s defeat by his outnumbered troops, and the destruction of Pharnaces’ army at the Battle of Zela.
Julius Caesar’s Rule and Reforms
He defeated the two sons of Pompey in Spain in 45 BC and finished Pompey’s dynasty. After these successes, Caesar became the sole owner of all authority in the Roman Empire. He received the title of emperor on the condition that he passes from the title of the ruler to his successors. His dictatorship was extended for 10 years. His daughter Tullia died in February of 45 BC. Caesar could not recover from this shock throughout his life.
By using the powers he gained, Caesar made very beneficial reforms for the state, regulated the legal situation of the Italian cities, and reformed the administration of the Roman States. Meanwhile, he eased the debt laws, granted citizenship and senatorial powers to the people of the states other than Rome, and enabled the poor to establish colonies in Carthage and Corinth.
Assassination of Julius Caesar
These measures which were taken by Caesar severely limited the powers of the Senate. When he achieved a lifelong dictatorship in 44 BC, the rumors started to spread that he would establish a monarchist regime instead of a republican government. Unwilling to accept this, the aristocrats prepared an assassination, led by Brutus and Cassius. Caesar was assassinated in Rome on March 15, 44 BC, at the age of 56 while he was climbing the stairs of the senate. Seeing Brutus among the assassins, Caesar’s last words were “You too, Brutus?”
The assassins told the people of Rome that Caesar’s murder was a great success and beneficial for the people. However, when the public’s reaction was not like how they expected it to be. Assasins had to leave Rome for their own safety. The Roman people did not forgive the murderers. At that time, when it was learned that the senate had forgiven those who had killed Caesar, the people ransacked the senate. The Senate was set on fire. Brutus and Cassias, who led Caesar’s murderers, fought against the Roman army and both Brutus and Cassias committed suicide after they were defeated. The Roman Empire retained its power for 500 years thanks to Caesar’s conquests. The name of Caesar, who founded the greatest empire of his time, was used synonymously with “emperor” in Rome. Emperors were traditionally called “caesars” even long after his death.
Julius Caesar and Ephesus
The visit of Caesar that matters most for Ephesus came in the summer of 48 BC, right after his victory over Pompey at Pharsalus. He crossed the Aegean chasing Pompey, stayed only a few days in the province of Asia and sailed on to Egypt. It is believed he came to Ephesus itself, the capital of the province, and short as the visit was, it left the city three things to remember him by: a saved treasure, a tax cut and a statue that called him a god.
The treasure was the money of the Temple of Artemis, the great bank of the Aegean. In the winter before Pharsalus, Scipio, the father-in-law of Pompey, had set a day to take it and had called the leading men of the province to Ephesus as witnesses. A letter from Pompey called him away to Greece just in time. After the battle Titus Ampius, another man of Pompey, tried the same thing and ran when he heard that Caesar was coming. Caesar wrote with pride that he had saved the money of Ephesus two times.
Then came the gift. Caesar cut the taxes of Asia by a third and took the collection away from Roman tax companies, so from then on the cities paid a fixed sum themselves. For the people of Ephesus, who had lived with the tax farmers for three generations, this was the best news from Rome in a long time.
The thank-you still exists. A marble base found in Ephesus carries a Greek inscription from 48 BC in which the cities, peoples and tribes of Asia honor Gaius Julius Caesar, son of Gaius, high priest, imperator and consul for the second time, “descended from Ares and Aphrodite, god made manifest and common savior of human life”. The Greeks of Asia had given big titles to Roman generals before, but this is the stone everybody quotes when they talk about Caesar as a god.
After his death the Romans of Ephesus went further. In 29 BC Augustus allowed them a sanctuary for the goddess Roma and the deified Julius, and many think the double monument beside the Prytaneion in the upper city is that sanctuary. When I pass it with my guests, I tell them that the story of the Roman emperors as gods in Ephesus begins right here, and it begins with Caesar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Veni, vidi, vici mean?
It is Latin for I came, I saw, I conquered. Caesar used the words after beating Pharnaces II, son of Mithridates VI of Pontus, at Zela in 47 BC. He is said to have written them to a friend.
Did Julius Caesar ever visit Turkey?
Yes. As a young officer he served on the staff of the governor of the Roman province of Asia, in western Anatolia, and went to Bithynia to collect ships. In 47 BC he came back to fight at Zela.
Where is Zela today?
Zela is the ancient name of Zile, a town in Tokat Province in north-central Turkey. Its castle stands on a hill in the middle of the town. Caesar’s battle was fought near here.
Why did the Ephesians call Julius Caesar a god?
Out of gratitude and politics together. In 48 BC he had saved the treasure of the Temple of Artemis and cut the taxes of Asia by a third, so the cities of the province set up a statue in Ephesus naming him god made manifest and common savior of human life. Giving divine titles to a strong ruler was an old Greek habit, and Caesar was now the strongest man in the world.
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